5 out of 8 Japanese automakers post record-high overseas production

TOKYO, Oct. 27 Kyodo - Overseas production at five of eight major Japanese automakers in the
April-September period rose to record highs for a fiscal first half due largely
to brisk production in emerging economies, data released by the automakers
showed Monday.
The five automakers are Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co.,
Suzuki Motor Corp., Daihatsu Motor Co., according to the data.
Although Japanese automakers cut production in the United States as auto sales
slumped due to high gasoline prices during the period, production increased in
emerging countries such as China.
For the latter half of the current year through March 31, however, analysts say
overseas production of the eight automakers would fall amid the ongoing
financial crisis.
The eight automakers are the five plus Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd., and Mazda Motor Corp.
By automaker, Toyota manufactured 2.16 million vehicles overseas in the
April-September period, up 0.3 percent from a year earlier, while Honda
produced 1.36 million vehicles overseas, up 6.8 percent, and Nissan
manufactured 1.12 million units, up 2.0 percent. Suzuki saw a 5.8 increase to
711,045 units and Daihatsu logged an increase of 74.6 percent to 62,712 units.
A cut in auto production in the United States, however, dented overall
production figures for Mitsubishi Motors and Fuji Heavy, the maker of Subaru
cars. Mitsubishi Motors saw a 22.0 percent fall from a year earlier to 224,215
units while Fuji Heavy logged a 13.9 percent decline to 49,299 vehicles.
As for domestic production, seven out of the eight Japanese automakers, saw
their production increase from a year earlier on the back of strong exports to
emerging countries.
Honda was the only automaker that recorded a decline as it exported fewer
vehicles to the United States than the previous year.
==Kyodo